After an exciting quarter-final and unbearable suspense, Tunisia grabbed the last ticket for the CAN U20 semi-finals by overthrowing Congo (3-3, 5-4 on pens) this Friday at the Cairo International Stadium. And to say that the foals of Marie Joseph Madienguela were virtually qualified until the 118e minute !
76′: 🇨🇬 1-2 🇹🇳
80′: 🇨🇬 2-2 🇹🇳
102′: 🇨🇬 3-2 🇹🇳
119′: 🇨🇬 3-3 🇹🇳
WHAT A GAME! #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/Fa1B0aSj0W— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) March 3, 2023
In this part, the first situations were Tunisian, like this cross repelled in extremis by Djigo Saïkou, but the realism was Congolese and the Diablotins hit the mark on their first opportunity by Déo Bassinga after an overflow from Exaucé Nzahou on the left side (1-0, 25e). But the Carthage Eagles did not give up and Saint-Etienne striker Jibril Othman took advantage of the passivity of the opposing defense to equalize by taking a cross from Rayan Nasraoui at close range just before half-time (1-1, 37e). The two teams surrendered blow for blow and Prince Ilendo then thought to put Congo back in the lead with a fine placed shot but his goal was canceled by the VAR due to a prior foul by Saïkou.
At the hour mark, this time it was Adel Sellimi’s foals who were deprived of a goal by the VAR since Ghaith Wahabi’s achievement was canceled due to a prior foul in the throat of Arnauvy Momboli who remained on the ground for long minutes. In the process, Mohamed Kechiche missed a huge goal ball. The Tunisians insisted and the incoming duo Adam Garreb-Samy Chouchane ended up making the difference with the perfect pass from the first to the second who chained control and strikes (1-2, 76e).
A crazy game!
But this match was definitely completely crazy and a new reversal occurred Saïkou launched Bassinga who adjusted Raed Gazzeh, out to meet him (2-2, 80e). Despite more than 7 minutes of additional time and a Tunisian header passed very close to the goal, it was necessary to go through extra time. During this, Ben Nejima’s hand in the area was sanctioned, after recourse to the VAR, with a penalty converted by Bassinga, author of a hat-trick (3-2, 102e)! But the Tunisians pushed and Ali Saoudi snatched the equalizer and shots on goal with a header from a corner at 119e minutes (3-3)!
With two failures on each side, the session proved to be just as crazy and full of twists and turns as the match, but Davarel Mouandza ended up completely unscrewing his attempt and helping to seal the fate of his country. It came down to nothing, but it is Tunisia that will challenge the Senegal monday in semi-finals and who will represent Africa at the next U20 World Cup.
Formations of Congo-Tunisia
Congo 🆚 Tunisia
SELECTIONS ALERT. 🚨📋👇#TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 | #CGOTUN pic.twitter.com/5gpnioBzfB
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 – FR (@caf_online_FR) March 3, 2023
